Vessel with a multi-mode hull
A ship having a multi-mode hull where the draft, seakeeping, and payload-carrying capacity are varied to match the requirements of the required mission. For example, the ship has a hull with first and second hull portions and with an interconnecting hull structure, and has a ballasting system within the hull portions and operable to adjust the draft of the vessel in conjunction with the payload carried by the ship so that the ship can perform a designated mission. The hull is designed to have an adjustable hull depth according to the payload carried to perform the mission and augmented by the ballasting system so as to optimize draft, and thus hull mode, to meet mission requirements. As a result, the ship operates in four distinct modes as follows: very shallow draft (logistics mode), shallow draft (catamaran mode), moderate draft (SWATH mode), and deep draft (stealth/low-freeboard mode).
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This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/426,070 filed on Nov. 12, 2002, which is incorporated by reference.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONThis application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/712,777 entitled MISSION MODULE SHIP DESIGN and Ser. No. 10/712,987 entitled METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MISSION MODULE SWAPPING IN A VESSEL, which have a common filing date and owner, and which are in by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONModern Naval ships are typically designed to perform multiple types of missions, and are, therefore, referred to as “multi-mission” ships. For example, suppose a ship is designed for anti-submarine warfare, littoral warfare, and anti-mine warfare. Such a ship may include a deck that has a respective command/control station for each type of mission, i.e., a station for anti-submarine warfare, a station for littoral warfare, and a station for anti-mine warfare. The ship may also have a hull that, although not ideal for any particular type of mission, is at least compatible with all of the mission types for which the ship is designed for.
One problem with such a multi-mission-type ship is that it is often larger than it needs to be for a single type of mission. For example, if a deck of the ship has a respective command/control station for each type of mission, then the deck, and most likely the ship, is bigger than it would be if it included only a single station for a single type of mission. Multi-mission ships are, therefore, high-value capital assets, are typically designed to carry a large crew to support the various missions, and are generally operated only in regions where high degree of protection is supplied by other friendly ships.
Another problem is that such a multi-mission-type ship is typically inefficient. For example, if the ship is designed to perform three types of mission and includes a respective command/control station for each mission type, then two of the three stations are typically unused when the ship is on a mission.
Furthermore, as discussed above, the hull of such a multi-mission ship is typically not ideal for any of the mission types for which the ship is designed. That is, if the hull is ideal for one type of mission, it may be incompatible with another type of mission. Therefore, when designing a hull that is compatible with multiple types of missions, a designer must often design the hull as a compromise across all missions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one embodiment, a ship has a multi-mode hull where the draft, seakeeping, and payload-carrying capacity are varied to match the requirements of the required mission. A preferred embodiment of the invention is directed to a ship having twin hulls with a first hull portion and a second hull portion with an interconnecting hull structure, the ship also having a ballasting system within the twin hulls that is operable to adjust the draft of the ship in conjunction with the payload carried by the ship to perform the designated mission. The twin hulls are designed to have an adjustable hull depth according to the payload carried to perform the mission and augmented by the ballasting system to optimize draft to meet mission requirements. As a result, the ship operates in four distinct modes depicted graphically in
1) Very Shallow Draft (Also Referred to as “Logistics Mode”)
-
- An additional displacement payload bay is affixed between the hulls and accommodates heavy payloads. The added displacement of the payload bay reduces the draft of the ship to enable the ship to deliver the heavy payloads into very shallow water (i.e. close to a beach). This mode is optimized for low speed operations carrying heavy payloads in shallow water in calm to moderate seas.
2) Shallow Draft Mode (Also Known as Catamaran Mode) - Payload (defined as the combination of, personnel, material and fuel) carried by the ship is adjusted such that the draft of the ship is shallow, similar to a catamaran. The reduced payload (smallest payload of any of the four modes) enables the ship to operate at its maximum speed. However, the limited fuel capacity needed to achieve the light payload results in limited range for this high-speed mode of operation. This mode is optimized for high-speed operations carrying medium to light payloads in shallow water or deep water in calm to moderate seas.
3) Moderate Draft Mode (Also Known as SWATH Mode) - As the payload in the ship increases beyond the light to moderate payload of the Shallow Draft Mode (Catamaran mode), the draft for the ship correspondingly increases since the displacement of the ship must equal the total weight of the ship plus the payload for the ship to remain afloat. The shape of the ship's hulls enables the ship to operate as a small-waterplane-area twin hull (SWATH), a hullform type well known to provide excellent seakeeping in high seas. In this Moderate Draft (SWATH) Mode, the ship is optimized to carry moderate to heavy payloads for long distances at moderate speeds in deep water in seas ranging from calm- to high-sea states.
4) Low Freeboard Mode (Also Known as Stealth Mode) - A Low Freeboard Mode is achieved by further increasing the payload of the ship beyond the Moderate Draft Mode or by adding ballast to the ship in the Moderate Draft Mode such that the center portion of the ship between the two side hulls touches the water. By eliminating the air gap between the water and the underside of the center portion of the ship, the “shadow” created by the air gap is eliminated and the ship has a reduced radar and infrared signature and therefore has improved stealth performance. This mode is optimized for low-speed operations in areas of potentially high-threat detection activity with moderate to heavy payloads.
- An additional displacement payload bay is affixed between the hulls and accommodates heavy payloads. The added displacement of the payload bay reduces the draft of the ship to enable the ship to deliver the heavy payloads into very shallow water (i.e. close to a beach). This mode is optimized for low speed operations carrying heavy payloads in shallow water in calm to moderate seas.
The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Mission modules 105 are designed with different capabilities that, when interfaced with the ship 100, provide the ship 100 with mission-specific functionality for respective types of missions. That is, a mission module 105 is capable of carrying the equipment and supplies necessary to conduct a specified mission. In this aspect, the ship 100 is somewhat analogous to a personal computer that includes a mother board (analogous to the frame 115) designed to accept one or more plug in cards (analogous to the mission module 105) that give the computer a desired functionality. Consequently, the ship 100 can be retrofitted for a particular type of mission merely by swapping out one mission module 105 for another. As discussed below, by designing a mission module 105 for a specific mission, one can quickly retrofit the ship 100 while deployed (as opposed to being in a port) such that the ship's retrofit downtime is reduced.
Generally, a mission module 105 comprises a watertight exterior and a reinforced interior structure that includes associated propulsion and auxiliary systems such that the mission module is sufficiently sea worthy for short-distance transits from one ship or dock to the intended host frame.
More specifically, as discussed above, a mission module 105 typically includes the equipment and other resources necessary to execute a particular type of mission. For example, the module 105 may include, e.g., one or more mission-specific operator/control stations (not shown), a mission-specific computer system, quarters and supplies (not shown) for additional crew needed for the mission, hangers for mission-specific equipment such as a helicopter or unmanned vehicle, and a tank for extra fuel.
The mission module 105 may also enhance the non-module, i.e., permanent, resources of the ship 100 for compatibility with the type of mission(s) that the module is designed for. For example, the ship 100 may include a general operator/control station (not shown), which the computer system of the module 105 can configure for the corresponding type of mission via an interface with the ship's computer system. Or, the module 105 may carry extra fuel and supplies for a long-range mission.
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Mission-modules 105 are contemplated for a number of mission types, including, but not limited to, anti-mine warfare, anti-submarine warfare, littoral operations, search and rescue, stealth delivery of personnel or supplies, a logistics support system such as special equipment transport or medical facilities, and/or a maritime intercept system. Alternatively, the module 105 may merely be used to provide the ship 100 with additional fuel, supplies, or cargo space. Furthermore, although described as supporting a single type of mission, the mission module 105 may support multiple mission types. In addition, although shown as including a single bay 110, the frame 115 may include multiple bays 110 that can each receive a respective module 105.
The systems of the mission module 105 are connected to the respective systems of the ship 100 via ship-to-module interfaces as discussed below. Specifically, the ship-to-module interfaces include physical connections between the frame 115 and the mission module 105. For example, as shown in
After the mission module 105 enters the bay 110, crew members mate each ship-to-module interface on the mission module 105 with the corresponding interface on the frame 115. Alternatively, the mating of the interfaces may be automated. In one implementation, the interfaces are universal for all ships 100 and mission modules 105 in a fleet so that a crew can install virtually any mission module 105 in the bay 110 of virtually any ship frame 115 using a common installation procedure. Likewise, a crew can remove virtually any mission module 105 from any bay 110 using a common removal procedure.
Alternate embodiments of the frame 115 and module 105 are contemplated. For example, although the bay 110 is described is being entirely below a deck (topside) of the ship 100, the frame 115 may have one or more deck openings (not shown) that allow portions of the module 105 to be exposed for use. For example, the module 105 may include a weapons turret (not shown) or an antenna array (not shown) that protrude through the deck openings. Or, the module 105 may include an elevator that can carry planes onto the ship deck via a deck opening.
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Once the second mission module 105b is engaged within the bay 110, the ship 100 is ready to begin its new mission. Still referring to
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Once the mission module 105 is within the bay 110, the crew can secure the module within the bay 110 and can interface the various module systems to the frame 115 systems as discussed above in conjunction with
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And although the ship 100 is described as a water-going vessel, the modular concept is applicable to other vehicles. For example, an airplane may have a modular passenger cabin. Consequently, ground crew can prepare the cabin and load the passengers while the plane is still in the air or is being serviced. When the plane lands, the crew removes one passenger cabin from the plane, and installs another pre-boarded and/or and pre-prepared cabin into the plane. Therefore, the departing passengers can effectively board the plane without having to wait for the arriving passengers to disembark the plane or for the crew to clean and restock the plane.
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Other embodiments of the multi-mode hull 510 are contemplated. For example, the hull 510 may allow the ship 100 to operate in one or more modes that are intermediate to the four modes described above. Furthermore, one may design a multi-mode hull that has more or fewer than four modes, where some or all of these modes are different than the four modes described above.
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Claims
1. A vessel, comprising:
- a propulsion device;
- a hull carrying the propulsion device and having at least three operating modes in which the hull is operable to be moved by the propulsion device from a first geographic location to a second geographic location, wherein the at least three operating modes includes a SWATH mode; and
- a system operable to select one of the operating modes.
2. The vessel of claim 1 wherein the system comprises a ballast system that is operable to select one of the operating modes by adjusting the draft of the vessel to a level that corresponds to the selected operating mode.
3. The vessel of claim 1 wherein the system comprises a ballast system that is operable to select one of the operating modes by adjusting a level of ballast within the vessel.
4. The vessel of claim 1, further comprising:
- a payload; and
- wherein the system comprises a ballast system that is operable to select one of the operating modes by adjusting the draft of the vessel using the payload.
5. A water vessel, comprising:
- a hull having a first hull portion and a second hull portion and having at least three operating modes in which the hull is operable to travel from a first geographic location to a second geographic location, wherein the at least three operating modes includes a SWATH mode; and
- a ballast system disposed within the hull and operable to select one of the operating modes corresponding to a predetermined mission by adjusting, during traveling from the first geographic location to the second geographic location, the draft of the vessel.
6. The vessel of claim 5 wherein the ballast system is operable to select a catamaran mode of operation by adjusting the draft of the vessel such that the hull is in a catamaran position with respect to the surface of the water.
7. The vessel of claim 5 wherein the ballast system is operable to select the SWATH mode of operation by adjusting the draft of the vessel such that the hull is in a SWATH position with respect to the surface of the water.
8. The vessel of claim 5 wherein the ballast system is operable to select a low freeboard mode of operation by adjusting the draft of the vessel such that the hull is in a low freeboard position with respect to the surface of the water.
9. The vessel of claim 5 wherein the ballast system is operable to select a shallow water mode of operation by adjusting the draft of the vessel such that the hull is in a shallow water position with respect to the surface of the water.
10. The water vessel of claim 5, comprising:
- a payload; and
- wherein the ballast system is operable to adjust the draft of the vessel using the payload.
11. The water vessel of claim 5 wherein the first hull portion is parallel or approximately parallel to the second hull portion.
12. A method, comprising:
- selecting one of at least three hull operating modes for a water vessel carrying a propulsion device, the vessel operable to be moved by the propulsion device in each of the hull operating modes from a first geographic location to a second geographic location, wherein the at least three hull operating modes includes a SWATH mode; and
- operating the vessel in the selected hull mode.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein selecting the hull operating mode comprises setting a draft of the water vessel to a level that corresponds to the hull operating mode.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein the hull of the vessel, in the selected hull operating mode, has a corresponding hydrodynamic property that is related to a submerged portion of the hull.
15. The method of claim 12 wherein selecting the hull operating mode comprises adjusting the draft of the water vessel to a corresponding level.
16. The method of claim 12 wherein selecting the hull operating mode comprises adjusting the amount of ballast on the water vessel.
17. The method of claim 12 wherein selecting the hull operating mode comprises adjusting the amount of payload on the vessel.
18. The method of claim 12 wherein selecting the hull operating mode comprises adjusting the amount of payload and ballast on the water vessel.
19. The method of claim 12 wherein selecting the hull operating mode comprises adjusting a position of a payload relative to the water line.
20. The method of claim 12 wherein selecting one of multiple hull operating modes includes selecting a very shallow draft mode.
21. The method of claim 12 wherein selecting one of multiple hull operating modes includes selecting a shallow draft mode.
22. A vessel, comprising:
- a propulsion device;
- a hull carrying the propulsion device and having multiple operating modes in which the hull is operable to be moved by the propulsion device from a first geographic location to a second geographic location, wherein the multiple operating modes includes a very-shallow-draft mode;
- a payload; and
- a system operable to select one of the operating modes, wherein the system comprises a ballast system that is operable to select one of the operating modes by adjusting the draft of the vessel using the payload.
23. A water vessel, comprising:
- a hull having a first hull portion and a second hull portion and having multiple operating modes in which the hull is operable to travel from a first geographic location to a second geographic location, wherein the multiple operating modes includes a logistics mode; and
- a ballast system disposed within the hull and operable to select one of the operating modes corresponding to a predetermined mission by adjusting, during traveling from the first geographic location to the second geographic location, the draft of the vessel, wherein the ballast system is operable to select a SWATH mode of operation by adjusting the draft of the vessel such that the hull is in a SWATH position with respect to the surface of the water.
24. A water vessel, comprising:
- a hull having a first hull portion and a second hull portion and having multiple operating modes in which the hull is operable to travel from a first geographic location to a second geographic location, wherein the multiple operating modes includes a logistics mode;
- a payload; and
- a ballast system disposed within the hull and operable to select one of the operating modes corresponding to a predetermined mission by adjusting, during traveling from the first geographic location to the second geographic location, the draft of the vessel using the payload.
25. A method, comprising:
- selecting one of multiple hull operating modes for a water vessel carrying a propulsion device, the vessel operable to be moved by the propulsion device in each of the hull operating modes from a first geographic location to a second geographic location, wherein the multiple hull operating modes includes a very-shallow-draft mode, and wherein selecting the hull operating mode comprises adjusting the amount of payload on the vessel; and
- operating the vessel in the selected hull mode.
26. A method, comprising:
- selecting one of multiple hull operating modes for a water vessel carrying a propulsion device, the vessel operable to be moved by the propulsion device in each of the hull operating modes from a first geographic location to a second geographic location, wherein the multiple hull operating modes includes a very-shallow-draft mode, and wherein selecting the hull operating mode comprises adjusting the amount of payload and ballast on the water vessel; and
- operating the vessel in the selected hull mode.
27. A method, comprising:
- selecting one of multiple hull operating modes for a water vessel carrying a propulsion device, the vessel operable to be moved by the propulsion device in each of the hull operating modes from a first geographic location to a second geographic location, wherein the multiple hull operating modes includes a very-shallow-draft mode, and wherein selecting the hull operating mode comprises adjusting a position of a payload relative to the water line; and
- operating the vessel in the selected hull mode.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Nov 12, 2003
Date of Patent: Jun 19, 2007
Patent Publication Number: 20040149196
Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Bethesda, MD)
Inventors: Terrence W. Schmidt (Santa Clara, CA), Gary M. Noland (Pleasanton, CA), Anthony J. Mannino (Twain Harte, CA), Bruce W. Cobb (Fremont, CA)
Primary Examiner: Lars A. Olson
Attorney: Graybeal Jackson Haley LLP
Application Number: 10/712,786
International Classification: B63B 9/08 (20060101);